Black Caps loss 'unforgivable'

WELLINGTON - New Zealand must improve both their batting and bowling at the death if they are to reach the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 tournament, says opening batsman Martin Guptill.

The Black Caps stumbled in the final over of their two-run loss to South Africa in Chittagong on Monday, scoring just four runs off pace bowler Dale Steyn as they reached 168-8 in response to 170-6.

Guptill says it is unforgivable that Ross Taylor, who was on 62 going into the final over, didn't get the strike until the final ball. Taylor was run out after mis-timing a full delivery straight back to Steyn.

"We needed seven off six balls so we should have really won that, we let that one get away," Guptill said.

"In the next game, if we get into that sort of situation, we'll need to be a bit smarter in our decision-making and get the guy who's on 60-odd at the time on strike."

Luke Ronchi was dismissed from the first ball of the over before Nathan McCullum played and missed twice. He then hit a four and was caught off the penultimate ball.

Guptill says the Black Caps should have also bowled better in the closing stages, with JP Duminy (86 off 43 balls) given too much room to attack.

Following their opening nine-run win over England on Saturday, New Zealand are locked in a tight race for the semi-finals.